Pressure regulator



March 24, 1942. s. SODERBERG 7 PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Dec. 1'7, 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 544 30- Hm INVENTOR 35 v 15 Smsvmm ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, 1942 EDSTATES PRESSURE REGULATOR Sten Soderberg, Passaic, N. 5., assignor to Leslie Company, Lyndhurst New Jersey N. .L, a corporation of 7 Claims.

This invention relates to pressure regulators and more particularly to a pressure regulator of novel construction in which the tendency to overregulate or hunt is greatly reduced or eliminated. The new regulator is of relatively simple construction, is sensitive in operation, and is adapted to function accurately over a wide range of pressures.

Pressure regulators as commonly made comprise a valve operated by a, diaphragm (or piston) subjected on one side to the fluid pressure to be regulated. Generally, this valve is arranged to act as a pilot valve and control, in turn, a main the main valve. Accordingly, whenever the regulated pressure becomes too high or too low, it causes the pilot valve to change the pressure on the diaphragm for the main valve so that the latter is adjusted to restore the desired outlet pressure.

One of the principal objections to this type of regulator is that it tends to over-regulate or hunt. That is, a sudden change in the controlled outlet pressure due to an external cause results in a greater movement of the pilot valve than is necessary to compensate for this pressure change, so that the main valve moves too far under control of the pilot valve and unbalances the outlet pressure in the opposite direction, This action may continue for a considerable period of time before the regulator is stabilized, and the reason for it is that the pressure impulse caused by a repositioning of the main valve is not transmitted immediately to the pilot diaphragm. Various means have been devised heretofore for reducing this hunting efiect but, so far as I am aware, they are not sufliciently effective or they involve relatively intricate and expensive constructions.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to the provision of a novel pressure regulator which efi'ectively reduces or eliminates the tendency to hunt and, in addition, is of relatively simple construction and is sensitive and accurate in operation. A regulator made in accordance with my invention comprises a regulating valve operatively connected to a pressure responsive means which is influenced by the fluid pressure to be regulated, the pressure responsive means including a diaphragm or other pressure element subjeoted on one side to a relatively high fluid pressure and on the opposite side to a relatively low fluid pressure. The regulator is characterized in that it includes a means for progressively decreasing the eflective pressure area of the diaphragm as it moves in the direction in which it is urged by the relatively high fluid pressure, and for progressively increasing its effective pressure area as it moves in the opposite direction. Preferably, the regulating valve is arranged to operate as a pilot for a main valve which controls the flow of fluid through the regulator to maintain thedesired outlet pressure, although it will be understood that the regulating valve could be used to control the outlet pressure directly.

With this construction, when the regulated pressure becomes too high' or too low it acts, through the pressure responsive means for the regulating valve to cause the latter to counteract the pressure change either directly or through the main valve. However, when the change in the regulated pressure causes the pressure responsive means to move in the direction in which it is urged by the relatively high pressure acting on the diaphragm, the resulting decrease in the effective area of the diaphragm progressively decreases the force moving the pressure responsive means in this direction, so that the latter assumes a balanced condition more quickly and the movement of the regulating valve is reduced. Conversely, when the pressure responsive means moves in the opposite direction due to a change in the regulated pressure, the resulting increase in the efiective area of the diaphragm progressively increases the force opposing the movement so that the pressure responsive means .is balanced and the movement of the valve is arrested more quickly. Thus, the movements of the pressure responsive means are efiectively dampened and thetendency to hunt is greatly reduced or eliminated.-

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. -1 is a sectional view in elevation of one form of the new regulator;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views in elevation showing different positions of the pressure responsive means illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view in elevation of a modification of the regulator shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the pressure regulator there shown is of the type comprising a regulating valve l arranged to operate as a pilot 7 control for a main valve The regulator comprises a casing l2 having an inlet l3 through which fluid is supplied at relatively high pressure from a pipe l4, and an outlet II from which the fluid is delivered at a relatively low pressure. The

flow of fluid through thte regulator is controlled by the main valve I which cooperates with a valve seat It threaded in a partition between the inlet and the outlet. A compression spring urges the main valve toward its seat l5 and is coiled around a guide rod I! on the valve and around a hollow boss I! projecting upwardly from a plate secured to the bottom of the casing. The guide rod is slidable in the boss l9 and in a bore 2| communicating therewith in the bottom plate 20.

Extending upwardly from the main valve II is a valve stem 23 fitted loosely in a hollow boss 24 on a pressure responsive means, such as a piston 25 movable in a cylinder 25. The cylinder at its lower end communicates with the outlet |5 through a perforated partition 21 through which the boss 24 extends loosely. At its upper end, the cylinder communicates through ducts 28 with an annular space 29 formed in a subsection 30 of the casing. The space 28 is connected through the regulating or pilot valve III with a chamber 3| which, in turn, is connected member 36 threaded in the upper end of the subsection 30, the member 36 being formed with radial ducts 31 connecting the central passage with the annular space 29. The stem 35 fits loosely in the member 36 and is provided with a reduced portion extending upwardly from the pilot valve a substantial distance above the radial ducts 31, thereby permitting free passage of fluid from chamber 3| to the cylinder 25 when the pilot valve opens.

At its upper end, the passage in the threaded member 35 opens into a recess 39 in the top of the casing subsection 3|), the recess 39 being closed at the top of the subsection by a diaphragm 40. Preferably, the diaphragm is made of thin metal and is clamped in position by a partition 4| secured to the top of the sub-section. The lower surface of the diaphragm is engaged by the upper end of valve stem 35, and the parts are so proportioned that when the pilot valve In is seated the diaphragm lies flat against the lower face of partition 4|, as shown in Fig. 1. In the central portion of the partition is a vertical passage considerably smaller in cross sectional area than the underlying recess 39,. and this passage opens at the top into a second recess 42 formed in the partition. The recess v42 is closed at the top of the partition by a second diaphragm 43, the two diaphragms being operatively connected by a plunger 44 extending loosely through the central passage in the partition.

The diaphragm 43 is clamped to the partition 4| by another sub-section 46 of the casing. The sub-section 46 is hollow and contains a compression spring 41 seated at its lower end on a button 48 engaging the diaphragm 43, the upper end of the spring being seated against aguide sifion by a lock nut 5| and is preferably housed in a removable cap 52 secured to the top of the casing.

The recess 42 intermediate the diaphragms is supplied with fluid at the regulated pressure, and to this end it may be-connected through a duct 54 to a conduit 55 which may lead directly to the outlet I! or, as shown, to a pipe 56 which,

. in turn, is connected to the outlet, as, for example, through a turbine (not shown) driven by the outlet pressure and a pump (not shown) driven.

by the turbine, in which case the regulator responds to pressure at the outlet side of the pump.

In operation, the adjustment 'member is screwed into the casing to depress the diaphragm 43 through spring 41, thereby forcing the central portion of diaphragm 40 away from partition 4| and unseating the pilot valve against the action of spring 34. As aresult, fluid passes from the inlet I! through duct 32, chamber 3| and ducts 31 and)! to the top of cylinder 25. The piston is thus subjected to an increased pressure which urges it downwardly against the spring I! and opens the main valve to permit the passage of fluid from the inlet I3 to the outlet l5. As the pressure in the pipe 56 increases, the pressure in recess 42 likewise increases and acts to shut down is considerably larger in efiective area than the" lower diaphragm even when the central portion of the latter is moved away from the partition the maximum amount to provide the maximum eifective area, as shown in Fig. 4, the netefiect of a pressure increase in recess 42 is to shut down the regulating valve. As a result, the supply of fiuid'from the inlet l3 to the top of piston 25 is reduced so that the fluid pressure on the piston decreases and allows spring H to throttle the main valve whereby the rate of flow through the main valve is reduced to the point where the desired pressure is maintained in the pipe 56. Thereafter, it the regulated pressure in pipe 55 should decrease for any reason, the resulting reduction of pressure in recess 42 causes the pilot valve to open wider and thereby increase the pressure on top of piston 25 which then opens the main valve wider and restores the pressure. Conversely, if the regulated pressure in pipe 56 becomes too high, the increased pressure in recess 42 acts to shut down the pilot valve and the main valve, as previously described.

It will be observed that in the operation of the pilot regulating valve I the effective pressure area of the lower diaphragm 40 increases progressively as the pilot valve'opens in response to a decrease in the regulated pressure in recess 42..

More particularly, as the upper diaphragm 43 moves downwardly due to a drop in the regulated pressure, the central portion of the lower diaphragm 40 is moved progressively away from the partition 4| by plunger 44 with the result that an additional area of this diaphragm is subjected to the pressures on its opposite sides and therefore becomes effective to oppose this down-.

ward movement by the action thereon of the higher pressure in recess 39 which is communicated from the pilot valve along the stem 35. On the other hand, when the diaphragms and the pilot valve move upwardly in response to a 2,277,162 pressure increase recess 42, the central porarea of the part of this diaphragm disengaged from the partition'when the pilot valve is opened the maximum amount, as shown in Fig. 4.

These changes in the effective pressure area of diaphragm dll oppose the tendency for the regulator to hunt. For example, when a sudden drop in the regulated pressure causes the pilot valve ill to open, the efiective pressure area of diaphragm 48 is increased an amount proportional to the downward movement of the valve and the diaphragms, and since the pressure on the lower face of diaphragm 4U acting to close the valve is greater than that on its upper face acting to open the valve, this increase in the effective area of diaphragm correspondingly increases the force opposing the downward movement. Accordingly, the opening movement of the pilot valve is arrested more quickly than would otherwise be the case, and the reaction of the main valve to the pressure change is dampened. Conversely, when a sudden increase in the regulated pressure causes the pilot valve and the diaphragms to move upwardly, the resulting decrease in the eifective pressure area of diaphragm @0 reduces the net force producing this movement so that the movement is arrested more quickly and the reaction of the main valve is not as great. Because of this gradually increasing opposition to the movements resulting from a change in the regulated pressure, the diaphragms assume a balanced condition more rapidly and the tendency' for the regulator to hunt is greatly reduced or eliminated.

In my new regulator, the tendency to hunt is further reduced by variations in the intermediate pressure in recess 33. More particularly, when the pilot valve ill is opened suddenly in response to a drop in the regulated pressure, the resulting increase in the pressure at the outlet side of the pilot valve is communicated along the stem to the recess 35 and further increases the force opposing the opening of this valve. On the other hand, when the pilot valve is shut down suddenly in response to an increase in the regulated pressure, the resulting drop in the pressure in recess 39 decreases the net force acting through diaphragm ii! to close the valve.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that not only does a variation in the regulated pressure in pipe 56 and recess :32 result in a progressively increasing force opposing the movement of the pilot valve which results from this variation, but the opposing force changes in proportion to the amplitude of the variation in the regulated pressure. Moreover, by reason of the variations in the free effective area of diaphragm 40, this opposing force is substantially uniform regardless of the outlet pressure for whoch the regulator is set, that is, regardless of whether adjustment member is screwed down for a high regulated pressure or backed ofi for a low regulated pressure. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the efiective area of diaphragm $0 is relativelysmall at lowset pressures when the differential of the pressures on the opposite sides ofdiaphragm 40 is high, whereas the effective area of this diaphragm is relatively large at high-set pressures when the differential of the pressures on this diaphragm is low.

,The construction shown in Fig. 1 is preferred because the diaphragm 40 serves both as an anti-hunting means, in conjunction with the partition ll which varies the effective area of valve at intermediate pressure into the low pressure line 55. If desired, however, the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 may be employed. As there shown, a single diaphragm 58 is substituted for the two diaphragms E0 and 43 and is mounted directly above the recess 39 in the casing sub-section 2!], the stem 35 preferably having a close fit in the member 35 to prevent any substantial leakage from the outlet side of the pilot valve into recess 39. The diaphragm 58 is clamped in position by the casing sub-section 460 containing the adjustable spring Me which urges the diaphragm and the pilot valve downwardly against the action of spring 35. The opening in the sub-section 46a directly above the diaphragm has a cross sectional area considerably smaller than that of the recess 39 so that when the pilot valve is seated the diaphragm is backed over its upper surface except for the opening directly above it; With this construction, when the diaphragm and the pilot valve move downwardly due to a drop in the regulated pressure in recess 39, the diaphragm moves away from the lower surface of sub-section 66a and.

lator to hunt, as will be readily apparent from the preceding description in connection with Fig. 1. I

I claim:

1. In a pressure regulator, a regulating valve, a pair of pressure responsive elements operativeiy connected to the valve, each of said elements being subjected on its opposite sides to relatively variable fluid pressures and one of the elements being subjected on one side to a relatively high fluid pressure, and means for gradually decreasing the effective pressure area of said last element as it moves in the direction in which it is urged by said relatively high fluid pressure.

2. In a pressure regulator, a regulating valve, a pair of pressure responsive elements operatively connected to the valve and partly defining a chamber between the. elements containing a variable pressure fluid acting on the adjacent sides of the elements, one of said elements being subjected on its side remote from said chamber to a fluid pressure lower than said variable pressure and the other element being subjected on its side remote from said chamber to a fluid pressure higher than said variable pressure, and means for gradually decreasing the efiective pressure area of said last element as it moves in the direction in which it is urged by said higher pressure fluid.

3. In a pressure regulator, a regulating valve, 8. pair of pressure responsive elements operatively connected to the valve and partly defining a chamber between the elements containing a variable pressure fluid acting on the adjacent sides of the elements, one of said elements being subjected on itsside remote from said chamber to 'a fluid pressure lower than said'variable pressure and acting to open the valve, the other element being subjected on its side remote from the chamber to a fluid pressure higher than said variable pressure and acting to close the valve,

intermediate pressure on one side of said pressure responsive means, a second pressure responsive means for operating the pilot valve and subjected to a relatively low pressure to be regulated, a diaphragm operatively connected to said last means and subjected on one side to said intermediate pressure, and means for gradually varying the effective area of the diaphragm subjected to said intermediate pressure in accordance with the movement of said second pressure responsive means.

5. In a pressure regulator, a casing, a regulating valve therein for supplying fluid at a relatively high pressure, pressure responsive means in the casing operatively connected to the valve, a diaphragm in the casing operatively connected to the valve, a partition between the diaphragm and said-means and at least partly defining with said means a chamber containing fluid at a relatively low pressure to be regulated, the casing defining with said diaphragm a second chamber on the side of the diaphragm remote from the first chamber and communicating with the outlet side of the valve, and a plunger extending through an opening in the partition between the diaphragm and the pressure responsive means, the diaphragm engaging the adjacent face of the partition around said opening and increasing gradually in effective area as it movesaway from the partition.

6. In a pressure regulator, a regulating valve, a pair of pressure responsive elements operatively connected to the valve, one of said elements being subjected to a variable fluid pressure to be controlled and operable to move the valve in accordance with variations in said fluid pressure, the other elementbeing subjected on one side to a fluid pressure and disposed in opposing relation to the first element whereby said last fluid pressure acts on said second element to oppose movement of the valve by-the first element in response to a change in the fluid pressure to be controlled, and means for gradually decreasing the efiective pressure area of said second element when it is moved in the direction in which it is urged by said second fluid pressure, the second element being operable by the variations in its effective area to oppose the tendency for the valveto hunt. i

7. In a pressure regulator, a regulating valve, a pair of pressure responsive elements operatively connected to the valve, one of said elements being subjected to a variable fluid pressure to be controlled and operable to move the valve in accordance with variations in said fluid pressure, the other element being subjected on one side to a fluid pressure and disposed in opposing relation to the first element whereby said last fluid pressure acts on saidsecond element to oppose movement of the valve by the first element in response to a change in the fluid pressure tobe controlled, and means for gradually increasing the effective pressure area of the second element when it is moved by the first element against said second fluid pressure, the second element being operable by the variations in its effective area to oppose the tendency for the' valve to hunt.

STEN SODERBERG. 

